Adjustably mounted camper step assembly

ABSTRACT

A camper step having dual function mounting means so that it can be mounted on a mounting bar selectively in either of several horizontally displaced positions or various vertical positions. The bar has mounting means so that it can be mounted in a left hand projecting position for left hand doors, or a right hand projecting position for right hand doors. The two mounting means are so related as to permit center mounting of the step member.

United States Patent [-191 Locke [451 Feb. 26, '1974 ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED CAMPER STEP ASSEMBLY Oscar Vernon Locke, 913 Evans St., Milton-Freewater, Oreg. 97862 Filed: June 8, 1972 Appl. No.: 261,095

Inventor:

US. Cl 280/163, 182/92, 248/295 Int. Cl B60n 3/02 Fieldof Search 280/163, 164, 166; 182/92,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1962 Harlan 182/92 12/1943 Anderson.....';.. 248/295 Primary Examine'rRobert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Klarquist',

Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston ABSTRACT A camper step having dual function mounting means so that it can be mounted on a mounting bar selectively in either of several horizontally, displaced positions or various vertical positions. The bar has mounting means so that it can be mounted in a left hand projecting position for left hand doors, or a right hand projecting position for right hand doors. The two mounting means are so related as to permit center mounting of the step member.-

7 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED CAMPER STEPv ASSEMBLY This invention relates to camper step assemblies and particularly to the mounting arrangement for a camper step member.

A 'main object of the invention is to provide a simple mounting arrangement permitting the step member to be located in a number of horizontal and vertical positions so that it can be adjusted to fit a' wide variety of campers.

Another object is to provide a mounting arrangement including a mounting bar which can be mounted in a left projecting position or a right projecting position, and a step member mountable either left or right on the bar, wherein the relationship is such that thest'ep member'can not only be mounted for a left camper door or a right camper door, but also a center camper door.

Various other objects of the invention will be appar ent from thefollowing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my, camperstep assembly, shown as'mo'unted on a camper vehicle;

FIG. 2 is arear elevationalview of the assembly on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3, is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 onan enlarged scale;

F IG'. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line pass the shank of the towingknob-23;Fhe latter fixedly secures the angle member to therear o'f th'e'camper'vehicle. I

A" mounting bar 25' F1652 extends parallel to the rear bumper 27a of the camper and has two-pairs of mounting holes 27, one pair located adjacent the left end portion of the bar while the other'is located adjacent the right end portion. Bolts .29 (FIGS. 2 and 3) pass through a pair of the holes 27 and through holes in the angle memb'er 21 to secure the b'a'rto the vertical flange of the angle member 21 in eithera left projecting position for left opening camper doors,o'r-in a right projecting position for right opening doors. In either positiomthe step memberf9 can be located in line with a centerdo'or, .as-will be'eirplained hereinafter.

The'b'ar 25 has fourpairs o'fears', two" pair b'ein'g the' the ears, each pin sliding down through the associated ears and tube, and being retained in place by a cotter pin or equivalent retaining element.

It is evident that the above described mounting arrangements enable the camper step member 9 to be located at various positions both horizontally and vertically to enable the steps to be'properly located on a wide variety of campers, despite different door mountings and heights. Even a center location of the step member 9 can be achieved. Suppose the door is centrally located in the rear of the camper. The bar 25 can be mounted on the angle 21 through its right hand holes 27 (as shown in ,FIG. 2) so that the bar 25 projects tothe left! However, by mounting the step member 9 in the right hand. ears 33 (as shown) the step member 9 is located centrally (as shown). The same result can be obtained by mounting the bar in its left hand holes 27 and the step member in the left hand cars 31. Obviously, the step member can be located in line with a door located to the left, by merely mounting the bar 25 as shown in FIG. 2, but mounting the step member 9 in ears 31. By mounting the bar in the left holes, 27 and the step member in the. ear's'33, the step member can be located inline with a right located camper door.

Instead of a tube and pin arrangement, a reduced-end pin could be used; Ithas-a reduced diameter lower end and upper end, each" about the diameter of the shank of pin 51, and a midportion about the diameter of the tube 49'.-Thefit of such reduced ends in the cars would beloose enough, and the upper shoulder of the midportion spacesuffi ciently below the upper car, as to enable the step. member to be raised to clear the lower reduced ends from the confinement of the ears, after which the step member could be tilted to move the lower ends rearwardly. and then downwardly to withdraw the upper reduced ends from the upper ears. To permit this m'ovement-,the upper step 1 1 might have to be pivotally mounted on the upper ends of the uprights 13, in those instances where there is'not'much space between the upper step and the-bumper or the underlying structure.

left" hand, earsand numbered'3 l (F IG. 2 )and' the other two pair being the right hand ears and numbered 33 (FIG. 4). Theears- 31' are centered. relative to the'left holes 27, while: the ears-33'are'ce'ntered relative to the right holes, and selectively receive mounting-portions o'f the step member 9. i a

Such mounting portions comprise a pair of pads 41' (FIG. 4)- which'- areiadjustabl'y held against the front facesof uprights 153 b'y'bolts 4 3Z- The bolts pass through vertical slots 45- in' the uprights and thread into tube bosses 47- to cla'mp the'uprightsin adesiredposition of vertical adjustment on the bar.

I Each: boss has a:vertical tube 49"ofalength t'o fit-between' apair of earson the bar 25} A pair of headed pins or bolts'Sl detachably mount'the camperstep on Having described the invention in what is considered to b'e'the preferred embodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that the invention is not to' be'limited other than by the provisions of the following claims.

Iclaim: v I

1. A'- carnper step assembly including:

a" step member,

an'elongate mounting member,

first mounting means for detachably securing the elongate 'mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more 'to the left of the'centerlineof the vehicle than to the right, and'the'other in which the mounting member projects more to the right of such centerlin'e than to the" left, i

- second m'ounti'ng means for mounting the step mem-' second mounting means comprises four pairs of ears,

vertical tubes carried by the step member for selective alignment with said ears,

retaining pins for said ears and tubes,

and means provided for vertically adjusting the position of the tubes relative to the step member.

3.'The camper step assembly including:

a step member,

an elongate mounting member,

first mounting means for detachably securing the elongate mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more to the left of the centerline of the vehicle than to the right, and the other in which the mounting member projects more to the right of suchcenterline than to the left,

second mounting meansfor mounting the step member on the mounting member on the left portion thereof or on the right portion thereof, I i

said second mounting means comprising four pairs of ears,

vertical tubes carried by the step member for selective alignment with said ears,

and retaining pins for said ears and tubes.

'4. The camper step assembly of claim 3 in which means are' provided for vertically adjusting the poistion of the tubes relative to the step member.

5. The camper step assembly including:

a step member,

an elongate mounting member,

first mounting means for detachably securing the elongate mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more to the left of the centerline of the vehicle than to the right, and the other in which the mounting member projects more tothe right of such centerline than to the left,

second mounting means for mounting the step member on the mounting member on the left portion thereof or on the right portion thereof,

said first mounting means comprising a mounting piece to be permanently secured to the rear of the camper vehicle,

said elongate mounting member having two pairs of mounting holes, one in the right hand portion of such elongate mounting member and the other in the left hand,

said second mounting means comprising four pairs of ears arranged in sets of two pairs each,

said step member having an upper step and a lower step joined by a pair of uprights,

each upright having a vertical slot,

said second mounting means including a pair of mounting elements simultaneously received by the ears of one set or the ears of the other set,

and means for adjustably securing said mounting elements in said slots to attain various vertical adjustments of the step member relative to various camper door heights,

said mounting holes being located in such spaced relation to each other and to said ears as to allow said elongate mounting member to be mounted in either of its positions while said step member is mounted in either of said sets of ears without interference between the said bolts and said mounting elements.

6. A camper step assembly v including a step member having a vertical element,

dual function mounting means for detachably mounting the step member on a support having several pairs of ears, and for mounting the step member for vertical adjustment,

said mounting means including a pad slidably engaging one face of said vertical element, a boss member slidably engaging the opposite face of said vertical element, a bolt securing said pad and boss in releasable clamping engagement with said vertical element to variously locate said step member vertically relative to said support,

and a mounting element carried by said boss and detachably engaging a pair of ears to facilitate disengagement and relocation relative to said support. 

1. A camper step assembly including: a step member, an elongate mounting member, first mounting means for detachably securing the elongate mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more to the left of the centerline of the vehicle than to the right, and the other in which the mounting member projects more to the right of such centerline than to the left, second mounting means for mounting the step member on the left portion thereof or on the right portion thereof, said first mounting means comprising a mounting piece to be fixedly secured to the rear of the camper vehicle, said elongate mounting member having two pairs of mounting holes, one in the right hand portion of such elongate mounting means and the other in the left hand, and bolts for securing the elongate mounting means to the mounting piece selectively in one pair of holes or the other.
 2. The camper step assembly of claim 1 in which the second mounting means comprises four pairs of ears, vertical tubes carried by the step member for selective alignment with said ears, retaining pins for said ears and tubes, and means provided for vertically adjusting the position of the tubes relative to the step member.
 3. The camper step assembly including: a step member, an elongate mounting member, first mounting means for detachAbly securing the elongate mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more to the left of the centerline of the vehicle than to the right, and the other in which the mounting member projects more to the right of such centerline than to the left, second mounting means for mounting the step member on the mounting member on the left portion thereof or on the right portion thereof, said second mounting means comprising four pairs of ears, vertical tubes carried by the step member for selective alignment with said ears, and retaining pins for said ears and tubes.
 4. The camper step assembly of claim 3 in which means are provided for vertically adjusting the poistion of the tubes relative to the step member.
 5. The camper step assembly including: a step member, an elongate mounting member, first mounting means for detachably securing the elongate mounting member to a camper vehicle selectively in either of two horizontal positions, one in which the mounting member projects more to the left of the centerline of the vehicle than to the right, and the other in which the mounting member projects more to the right of such centerline than to the left, second mounting means for mounting the step member on the mounting member on the left portion thereof or on the right portion thereof, said first mounting means comprising a mounting piece to be permanently secured to the rear of the camper vehicle, said elongate mounting member having two pairs of mounting holes, one in the right hand portion of such elongate mounting member and the other in the left hand, said second mounting means comprising four pairs of ears arranged in sets of two pairs each, said step member having an upper step and a lower step joined by a pair of uprights, each upright having a vertical slot, said second mounting means including a pair of mounting elements simultaneously received by the ears of one set or the ears of the other set, and means for adjustably securing said mounting elements in said slots to attain various vertical adjustments of the step member relative to various camper door heights, said mounting holes being located in such spaced relation to each other and to said ears as to allow said elongate mounting member to be mounted in either of its positions while said step member is mounted in either of said sets of ears without interference between the said bolts and said mounting elements.
 6. A camper step assembly including a step member having a vertical element, dual function mounting means for detachably mounting the step member on a support having several pairs of ears, and for mounting the step member for vertical adjustment, said mounting means including a pad slidably engaging one face of said vertical element, a boss member slidably engaging the opposite face of said vertical element, a bolt securing said pad and boss in releasable clamping engagement with said vertical element to variously locate said step member vertically relative to said support, and a mounting element carried by said boss and detachably engaging a pair of ears to facilitate disengagement and relocation relative to said support. 